Fishing Trips

Guided Fishing Trips on North America’s Best Rivers and Coastlines

Whether you are a seasoned fly fisherman, a novice fishing enthusiast in need of instruction, or an occasional recreational fisherman who has been meaning to dust off your rod and reel, we can provide you with an unforgettable venue for fishing on some of North America’s most renowned rivers and coastlines. O.A.R.S. offers guided fishing trips in Idaho and fishing in British Columbia as well as on various rivers throughout the Western U.S.

Join O.A.R.S., the company twice named in 2008 and 2009 the “The Best River & Sea Outfitter On Earth” by National Geographic Adventure Magazine. Outside magazine, National Geographic Traveler magazine, MSNBC, Good Morning America, Condé Nast Traveler and Men’s Journal have all recognized O.A.R.S. as offering the some of the “Best Trips” on the planet.

You bring your tackle or fly fishing gear, and we will supply you with everything else needed for an unforgettable fishing vacation in Idaho. We use custom-rigged oar rafts to guide you down river, as they provide a sturdy and maneuverable fishing platform. Our guide will row you and one other guest on his/her boat through rapids and to fantastic fishing spots.

In British Columbia, enjoy a scenic flight over the glaciated Coast Range before arriving at the Lodge at Chilko Lake, one of the most remote and exclusive wilderness lodges in North America. From the lodge, our expert fishing guides will outfit you with everything you need for 5 days of British Columbia fly fishing for record salmon and rainbow trout along the Chilko River or by flat bottom riverboat on crystal clear Chilko Lake. Or, join us at Farewell Harbour Resort on Johnstone Strait in Coastal B.C. for a few days of kayaking and fishing in Canada from your private oceanside cabin or in Idaho for cutthroat fishing on the Salmon River.

Our friendly and approachable fishing guides are experienced professionals who live in the area and have in-depth knowledge of conditions, hatches and techniques that work in their area. They are also are experts at finding the best fishing and camping spots. You will often feel as though you are the only people on the water, where you may enjoy the solitude of wilderness fishing. With the best guide-to-guest ratio in the business and decades of experience, make O.A.R.S. your choice for your next BIG fishing adventure.

Featured Fishing Adventures

Fishing on Idaho’s Middle Fork of the Salmon River
The Middle Fork of the Salmon River offers some of the best cutthroat fishing in Idaho. As one of the original “National Wild and Scenic” rivers, the Middle Fork is truly one of Idaho’s crown jewels. The river flows through the largest federally protected wilderness in the continental U.S. and passes along pine-clad mountains, rolling grasslands and narrow gorges. Not only are there abundant opportunities to cast a line, this river trip also boasts pristine campsites, abundant wildlife, natural hot springs and sandy beaches. The Middle Fork Salmon River canyon is an ideal setting for a guided fishing trip in Idaho.

Skilled anglers might expect to catch upwards of 40 cutthroat per day. Fish that are 12 to 14 inches are common, with an occasional 16- to 18-inch fish. To protect the resource, all fishing is limited to catch and release, with single barbless hooks. No bait is allowed. Native rainbow, mountain whitefish and bull trout are also caught along the Middle Fork.

Fishing on the Chilko River and on Chilko Lake in British Columbia
For the fly fisherman, the Chilko River is truly world class. This prime location where sockeye salmon and rainbow trout are found together produces some of the best fishing in British Columbia. Our guides utilize deluxe flat bottom riverboats that have forward and aft fishing platforms with stanchions for stable casting. We utilize 4-stroke environmentally friendly jet engines in order to negotiate the river, but you can also fish from shore or in waders. When exploring Chilko Lake, we often stop to fish many of the inlets and creek mouths where trough and dolly varden are plentiful.

Johnstone Strait Fishing, British Columbia
From your kayak guests of Farewell Harbour Resort on Johnstone Strait can jig for cod and halibut or troll for salmon. We provide a few salmon rods and cod jigs if you are interested in fishing. The chef is always happy to incorporate the “catch of the day” into our evening menus! The record to date out of a kayak is a 46lb salmon.

Although we don’t offer specific fishing itineraries on other rivers in which we operate, there is ample time to dip your line in the water on such rivers as the Main Salmon and the Snake rivers in Idaho, the Tuolumne River in California and on the Rogue River in Southern Oregon.

A sampling of what you might catch on an O.A.R.S. trip:

• Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho – native cutthroat and rainbow trout
• Chilko River in British Columbia – sockeye salmon, rainbow trout, dolly varden char, whitefish
• Johnstone Strait in Coastal British Columbia – cod, halibut and salmon
• Lower Salmon, Main Salmon Rivers in Idaho – smallmouth bass, trout
• Snake River in Idaho – smallmouth bass
• Southern Oregon’s Rogue River – king salmon and steelhead
• California’s Tuolumne River – rainbows and land locked steelhead